Editorial | Education and vigilance vital for Hong Kong online safety
- While authorities should promote safe internet practices for the young and vulnerable, parents can strengthen the first line of defence by staying vigilant about their children’s online activities
Much has been said about how technology and social media have made users more vulnerable to online scams. Increasingly, children have also become the target of sex predators lurking on the internet.
This is reflected in a disturbing rise in sex crimes involving young victims.
The revelation that a nine-year-old was among those abused underlines the severity of the problem. The city recorded 696 cases of sexual abuse involving children last year, up from 578 in 2022. Of these, 45 arose from the child’s online activities, rising 15 per cent from the 39 cases recorded in 2022.
The cases involved rape, sexual intercourse with a minor, buggery, indecent assault and indecent conduct towards minors, according to police.
This is not the first time the problem has come under the spotlight. During the pandemic, the authorities also warned of the risks as children stayed home and turned to the internet more often.